Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane facts for kids
Leonard Grey (born between 1479 and 1492, died 1541) was an important figure in Irish history. He was known as Lord Leonard Grey before 1536. From 1536 to 1540, he served as the Lord Deputy of Ireland. This role meant he was the main representative of the English King in Ireland.
Family Background
Leonard Grey was a younger son of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset. His mother was Cecily Bonville, Baroness Harington and Bonville.
His Time as Lord Deputy
King Henry VIII of England gave Leonard Grey a big job. In 1535, Grey led an army against Irish rebels. These rebels did not accept King Henry's new rules. The King wanted to be the head of the Church of England. He also wanted people to stop following the Pope.
Grey was known for being very tough. He took over as Lord Deputy after William Skeffington passed away. On January 2, 1536, Grey was given the title Viscount Grane. This was a special honor, but he never actually used the title.
He was very active in fighting the rebels. He also led the parliament in 1536. However, he soon had disagreements with powerful families. The Butlers were one of these families. He also argued with some of the King's advisors. One important advisor was John Rawson, 1st Viscount Clontarf.
On July 11, 1537, Lord Deputy Grey visited Galway. This was the first time a King's Deputy had visited the town. It helped create stronger ties between Galway and the English government in Dublin. He was welcomed warmly and stayed for seven days.
Later, Grey was accused of helping his sister's son escape. This was the young Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare. He was said to have escaped to France in 1539. Grey strongly denied this accusation. His arguments with the Butler family became even worse.
In the end, Grey was put on trial. He was accused of going against King Henry VIII. He was later executed at the Tower of London on July 28, 1541. This happened because of King Henry VIII's orders.
Carrigogunnell Conflicts
Leonard Grey was involved in several conflicts in Ireland. One notable event happened at Carrigogunnell Castle in 1536. This castle was in a region called Thomond. It later became part of County Limerick.
Grey was an active part of the Tudor conquest of Ireland. He brought new ways of fighting to Irish warfare. His methods sometimes included actions that were very harsh. He even reported these actions to London. This was different from how Irish leaders usually reported battles. They usually only talked about defeating soldiers. Grey, and other English officers, saw all their actions as important to report.
